FRANKIE DETTORI will make a rare trip to Ireland to ride in a Barney Curley charity race at Bellewstown on Thursday.
Curley passed away at the age of 81 in May and was one of Dettori’s early mentors when the Italian first moved to England.
A successful trainer, Curley also masterminded the famous Yellow Sam gamble in 1975 when the horse won at 20-1 as Curley hogged the only phone line into Bellewstown.
Dettori, visiting the course for the first time, will be joined by Jamie Spencer and Shane Kelly on the card with the trio set to ride in the feature handicap sponsored by Curley’s old pal Tony Gannon.
Each saddle cloth has been sponsored with money to be donated to Curley’s charity, Direct Aid For Africa (DAFA).
Other races at the meeting have been named in Curley’s honour including the BetVictor 2 Bananas To 1 Banana Handicap.
Dettori will partner Jonny Murtagh’s Trueba and said: “Jamie, Shane and I are really looking forward to visiting Bellewstown to ride in memory of our great friend and his charity.
“Barney was very good to all of us from the moment we arrived in England. He was always at the end of the phone with good advice and while Barney didn’t say a lot, when he did you listened very carefully.
“His advice helped us with the many successes we have had in our respective careers.
“The lads and I would encourage everyone to get behind this special race, donate what you can and support the wonderful work of DAFA.”
Bellewstown chief Alan Delany said: “Barney was a remarkable man and one of the great characters of racing who raised millions to fund his work in Zambia through his charity Direct Aid For Africa.
“My committee members and I felt it was a fitting tribute to Barney to host a fundraising event for DAFA in his honour.”
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